Australian director Justin Kurzel might not nail his interpretation of the controversial outlaw Ned Kelly, but he gets plenty of points for trying. Based on Peter Carey’s 2000 novel of the same name, True History of the Kelly Gang is a rollicking fable about poverty, desperation, abuse, guilt, and exploitation in the early days of the Australian experiment, particularly as it pertains to the rise and fall of its most famous native son. It’s a wild ride, to say the least, and even though its uneven style doesn’t always serve the narrative, it’s still a ride worth taking.
The first half of the film successfully conveys the hardscrabble existence eked out by the convicts and ex-convicts of Australia’s frontier and the arbitrary abuses they tolerate at the hands of colonial forces. Young Ned (Orlando Schwerdt) suffers the death of his misunderstood father (Gentle Ben Corbett) and the near-constant manipulative abuse from his mother Ellie (Essie Davis). When she sells him to a traveling bushranger (Russel Crowe), Ned begins the moral exploration that leads to his eventual decline into the savage outlaw revered by many Australians.
Up until this point, True History of the Kelly Gang follows rather logical plotting and form. There are some nice artistic flourishes but by and large, it’s a straight narrative that adheres to logic and reality. When a grown Ned (George MacKay) is released from a stint in prison, however, the film takes a distinct turn for the surreal. As Ned becomes more unhinged, so does the story and the presentation. The introduction of unquestioned and unapologetic queer power and gender politics may not be historically accurate but when taken as an allegory for the modern fight against toxic masculinity and the struggle for trans rights – especially considering that Kelly is generally seen as a very male hero – accuracy hardly seems important. (honestly, I was disappointed to learn afterward that the Kelly Gang didn’t actually wear women’s clothing on their raids, as portrayed in the film – however the unbelievable gun battle using homemade armor did happen)
Fans of directors Pedro Almodóvar and Alex Cox (with some Jodorowsky thrown in for good measure) should find plenty to grab onto with the politics and chaos of the film’s second half. But, as visually striking as the final hour is, Kurzel hasn’t quite mastered how to tie the disorder and bedlam together into a fully serviceable experience. Where Almodóvar and Cox are masters at the clash between underground cultures and so-called society, Kurzel struggles somewhat with the age-old battle. That’s not to say his attempt isn’t entertaining, because it is, but it lacks the authenticity and tenacity of its influences.
True History of the Kelly Gang won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, and I suspect it doesn’t aim to be. While it isn’t overly graphic, there are enough disturbing elements to potentially turn uninitiated gazes away. And while Kurzel and his film might not quite live up to the big shoes it’s attempting to fill, True History of the Kelly Gang is still an engaging work with a lot to say about mental and physical abuse, oppression, and the cultish mentalities that continue to hold up outdated views of masculinity.
Also starring Nicholas Hoult, Thomasin McKenzie, and Charlie Hunnam.
VOD streaming begins on April 24, 2020.
James is a writer, skateboarder, record collector, wrestling nerd, and tabletop gamer living with his family in Asheville, North Carolina. He is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the North Carolina Film Critics Association, and contributes to The Daily Orca, Razorcake Magazine, Mountain Xpress, and Asheville Movies.